Warmbloods - very high maintenance? Don't know what to do

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hairycob

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Looking for a sturdy 16h for a growing boy or so & am finding it hard to find what I was looking for. I have been excluding warmbloods as too high maintenance but am wondering whether I'm right. The main issue is that where we keep ours is geared up for living out, which suits my other 2, & if I had a horse that needed to come in for all but the worst weather it would be in on it's own. Don't want to bring in one of my others as they don't like being in.

Have been looking for cobby types buy went to see a 15.2 that sounded good, but it fitted just right now & would be outgrown in months so have decided I need to go for 16h & am having to rethink totally. Seller today suggested we went to see someone else who had a warmblood that was just the right size & v nice, but I am worried about the living out. Now I am totally confused.
 
I've had TBs for years and they all lived out very successfully when I lived in the UK. I don't see why WBs should be any more 'fragile'
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This sentence confused me;

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if I had a horse that needed to come in for all but the worst weather it would be in on it's own.

[/ QUOTE ]

Did you mean BEST weather?
 
We have a rescue Dutch Warmblood.
He has lived out two winters with us and looks fab.
He actually will not stable or go in a shelter.
He was what is called a problem horse when we took him in. I was told he would not keep weight on - i rang past owners in passport.
The fact that he is able to live out means he keeps fantastic condition.
We also have a Polish warmblood learning English! She has wintered out and kept fantastic condition also.
Don't let it put you off.
We also took in a posh thoroughbred, she too is a much better horse for living out all winter. Fantastic condition!
 
I've got a WB x cob and she lives out all year round. Keeps weight on fine. My trainer breeds WBs and hers live out too.

Plenty of fibre and decent rugs and shelter and they'll be fine.
 
Shows how confused I am. - what I meant was that there are a couple that come in for the foulest weather only, but everything else stays out all the time.
 
What about an Irish draught? or ID cross? Might also be worth ringing up any warmbloods you like the sound of and asking how they live now... im sure some live out 24/7 with no problems, its just a case of finding one. Horses like are like people in that some feel the cold alot more than others!
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my warmblood lives out all the time. he's got a very good rug on (FAL Goliath, or whatever the next one up is from that), and he eats a lot of hay, and has a shelter too for when it's foul, but he's got a great shaggy coat now and is perfectly happy out.
 
My friend has 3 warmbloods, ok they come in at night but thats because my friend wants them in. One of them wont wear a rug so she is out everyday what ever the weather and is fine, she grows a great coat and to be honest has the best coat on the yard in summer.
What about a ID x TB sports horse type if you arent sure about the warmblood?
 
My warmblood rising 2 year old lives out without a rug most of the time and only has a MW rug on when it is very cold, windy and wet (his coat just hasn't got enough grease on it at the moment). I've found that most horses can live out if they are not clipped (though some will need rugs), and they can live out clipped with rugs. I would definately look at warmloods if you like the look of them though there are many different breeds and they can be very different so be aware of that.

Also if the horse is going to live out over winter, make sure that you allow it to grow a full coat and if it is going to be clipped clip the minimum possible and then rug. Hope this helps.
 
I like ID /ID crosses, just haven't seen one in the right area for the right price unless it's outside my age range (6-10). I'm sure the right horse is out there it's just keeping itself well hidden at the moment.
 
I have a 16 hand warmblood that lived out all through out the summer and only came into a stable at night late december due to our fields becoming boggy and lack of grazing. He is so safe and easy to do, will happily be left in the field or stable on his own while we ride the others. It may be worth looking at warmbloods, you may just find one that will suit you.
 
My cousin who has her own land has 3 horses, one of them being a warmblood. She has invested in some good rugs but he is never stabled and is fine. She does leave the stable doors open with a bed made so they can all choose, and they never go in, they all stay out 24/7.
 
A friend of mine rents a paddock of me and her warblood, a KWPN, lives out all year. She looks so much better for it than she ever did in a stable! She has plenty of rugs, I admit, but thrives on it.
 
My horse is 16.1, was supposed to be 15.1! He is a cob cross, don't know what the cross is still waiting to find out but thinking more and more it's crossed with a WB, vet thinks this too, he is now just 7 and sadly on box rest, but he does everything, jumps, dressage, RC stuff and has hunted. Unfortunately my yard has a policy that all horses have to be stabled at night but he would easily stay out all year round. So they are out there! Keep looking!

elsielouise have you any pics of yours??!!
 
I have just bought a warmblood who has lived out all winter and is now living out with me (I don't live in the field with him!) I have a stable but he hates to come in, even for an hour or two if the weather is bad. Most of the horses here live out 24/7 and they are all healthy and happy.
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I decided to phone a couple that looked interesting this morning & both sold. Ho hum, just keep looking. My Mum who is not at all horsey thinks you just find something the right size & price & hand over the money. If only it were that easy!
 
Mine all live out 24/7.

One is a retired TB, another is WB x TB and the other is a ID x Warmblood. Only the old TB wears a rug and she has only had one for the last couple of winters.

So long as you have shelter, ad lib hay/lage and preferably a dry hard standing they do great outside with very little hard feed.

As Weezy said horses are pretty much only as high maintenance as you make them/want them to be.
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my idxtb is fairly high maintenance in the fact he eats for Scotland, he is happier living out but needs tons of grass/hay/hard feed to keep weight on him
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